I collected my brother and his three DC's last Tuesday (3 hour drive there and back) on the say so of social services. Their mother (lets call her L) has been having huge mental health issues for the last two years, DC's have been under a child protection plan for around 12 months. L is also on drugs and has a serious addicition, to the point she smashed the house up last tues whilst children witnessed it all, she threw plates, glasses, chairs at my brother and then tried to set the house on fire (again DC's where still inside) Brother got them out, put fire out and called the police, there was a bit of a show down, L locked herself in shed and cut all her arms, eventually she was arrested and detained under mental health act, she is in hospital now sectioned (2 I think).
Since Brother come here, we have spoken to Tax credits, job centre, child benefit, income support to try and get him some money coming in so he can support his children. I am a SAHM and although DH works we have four extra mouths to feed, clothe and water)
Tax credits said it will be a rival claim, as have child benefit, he cant get income support until child benefit is sorted and we have been told this will take up to FIVE weeks. I managed to speak to some discretionary fund and he got £50 today but they left with bare minimum, they pretty much only have the clothes they came in and a few more outfits.
School goes back here next week, so we need to sort that out and uniform for them this week, he has had a food bank voucher.
I was wondering though if anyone knew how we can speed up the process because she is sectioned, she is getting all this money paid into her account for the children and has been spending it on drugs! We have letters from social services and reports all stating she has been sectioned.
He's at his wits end and I am worried he will go back just so he can cope!